MADISON - The Crusaders didn't waste any time trying on their rally caps Monday night.
Madison Edgewood scored five runs with two outs in the first inning of a 13-1, five-inning Badger South victory at Warner Park.
"We had trouble running the ball down in the outfield early," Monroe coach Steve Christensen said. "I don't know if it was playing under the lights for the first time or what."
The opening pitch took place at 7:30 p.m. After some early-game acclimation, outfielders Nate Barta and Alex Dammen settled in nicely even if the damage was already done.
Monroe's lone tally came on a sacrifice fly in the second inning by senior Brett Stangel, who drove home Josh Popanz, who was pinch-running for Taylor Weckerly, who doubled.
With a Crusader 4-spot in the fourth, most of which also came with two outs, Monroe (1-3, 0-2) hit the road home early.
"They came back and scored a bunch; again we had trouble getting the third out," Christensen said. "They are an outstanding hitting team and don't have any easy outs in their lineup."
Perhaps Monroe's biggest loss of the night came when steady senior catcher Kyle Klopfenstein took a fouled pitch off his nose and was taken to the hospital.
"We really miss Kyle's leadership and experience behind the plate when he's not in there," Christensen said. "We'll need to make some adjustments for the upcoming games."
Monroe hits the road again tonight for another conference clash with Oregon at 5 p.m.
Madison Edgewood scored five runs with two outs in the first inning of a 13-1, five-inning Badger South victory at Warner Park.
"We had trouble running the ball down in the outfield early," Monroe coach Steve Christensen said. "I don't know if it was playing under the lights for the first time or what."
The opening pitch took place at 7:30 p.m. After some early-game acclimation, outfielders Nate Barta and Alex Dammen settled in nicely even if the damage was already done.
Monroe's lone tally came on a sacrifice fly in the second inning by senior Brett Stangel, who drove home Josh Popanz, who was pinch-running for Taylor Weckerly, who doubled.
With a Crusader 4-spot in the fourth, most of which also came with two outs, Monroe (1-3, 0-2) hit the road home early.
"They came back and scored a bunch; again we had trouble getting the third out," Christensen said. "They are an outstanding hitting team and don't have any easy outs in their lineup."
Perhaps Monroe's biggest loss of the night came when steady senior catcher Kyle Klopfenstein took a fouled pitch off his nose and was taken to the hospital.
"We really miss Kyle's leadership and experience behind the plate when he's not in there," Christensen said. "We'll need to make some adjustments for the upcoming games."
Monroe hits the road again tonight for another conference clash with Oregon at 5 p.m.
